The Billionaire's Plump Bride

A man stepped eagerly into an apartment located in an upscale area, holding a small velvet-lined box in his hand.

Tonight, Frans planned to surprise his girlfriend, Arinda Afriyani Hermawan, on her birthday. They had been dating for the past two years.

Frans couldn't help but smile as he looked at the door of the apartment unit he had purchased on the anniversary of his relationship with Arinda. The apartment was now occupied by Arinda as a gift for their first anniversary.

As Frans entered, the unit seemed quiet. His gaze scanned the dimly lit living room. It was already midnight, so it was reasonable to assume that Arinda had gone to bed by now.

A few hours ago, Frans had claimed to be busy and unable to celebrate her birthday, which had angered Arinda, who called him unromantic. She had also declared her intention to sleep early that night and forbidden Frans from visiting.

However, Frans, who was preparing a surprise for her birthday, didn't care about her instructions. In his hands, he held a diamond-studded ring that would be a birthday gift for Arinda and a proposal ring.

Frans's lips curled up as he looked at the ring, still hidden inside the velvet box, and the slightly open bedroom door. He approached the partially open door.

Frans's hand extended, ready to press the handle and push the bedroom door open. However, before he could do that, his hearing caught a disgusting sound from inside the room.

"No way," Frans mumbled to himself, dismissing the sudden intrusive thoughts, accompanied by increasingly audible moans.

Yet, he remained convinced that it wasn't Arinda inside. They had been in a relationship for two years, and even when they spent nights together, Arinda had never allowed him to go beyond a hug.

Now? Frans shook his head, believing his hearing must be playing tricks on him. He quickly pushed the door open to confirm his mistaken thoughts.

However, when the bedroom door swung open, Frans froze instantly. His eyes welled with tears, and a crushing feeling gripped his chest. Before him, Arinda was betraying the pure love he had for her.

The pain gnawed at Frans as he watched Arinda, who was in control of the situation. She was the one who was the most passionate, her body glistening with sweat. Never had Frans imagined that Arinda could be so wild, given the love he had for her.

"Hurry up. I'll wait outside," Frans said flatly, one hand raised, signaling for Arinda to stay where she was. He refused to have Arinda run towards him, seeking forgiveness or making excuses. He couldn't bear to hear words that would only be more painful. It was better to end it and get rid of it as far as possible.

"Frans..." Arinda sighed, panicking as she saw Frans suddenly appear and witness what she had been hiding all this time.

Frans curled one corner of his lips, chuckling at himself for being so easily fooled by Arinda. He had sacrificed a lot in their relationship, but this was what he got in return. There was no forgiveness left to give, even a little.

So, when Arinda finished dressing, Frans and his two bodyguards were waiting in the living room, ready to clean the unit of all Arinda's belongings and traces. Frans also had all of Arinda's things thrown out of the unit and requested the apartment management to change the unit's password.

Arinda, not accepting Frans's eviction, struggled, crying and pleading for his forgiveness. However, Frans had no intention of accepting her apology. He had judged all women the same, promising not to engage in a relationship with a woman anytime soon.

One year later,

A slightly plump girl ran into the university campus area, desperately trying not to be late for her class. Her parents had gone out of town to build a garden, so there was no one at home to wake her up. Furthermore, she had stayed up all night to complete an assignment. As a result, Veronica woke up late and was running late for campus.

"Hopefully, there's still a seat," Veronica muttered. She hoped that the back row would still have an empty seat because she strongly preferred not to sit at the front and become the center of attention for her fellow students.

Moreover, she had to share a class with a girl named Bianca Marsya, who constantly ridiculed her shortcomings. Bianca even incited other students not to befriend Veronica.

"I knew it," Veronica sighed as her steps reached the classroom door. She saw that there were no more empty seats at the back; they had already been taken by her friends. She knew that today she wouldn't be able to focus on studying due to the whispers and smirks from her classmates.

Just as Veronica took her first step into the classroom, all eyes were already on her. Whispers and subtle mocking smiles followed her. Veronica could only smile and pretend they didn't exist, hoping that the professor who was supposed to teach would still be absent so she could go home.

"Since you're sitting in the front today, could you please have a bit of self-awareness and move to the corner so you don't obstruct our view?" said a beautiful female student, none other than Bianca. She deliberately disturbed Veronica to make her feel intimidated.

It was always like this. Bianca felt that Veronica wasn't worthy of receiving an education at their prestigious university. Unfortunately, Veronica had been accepted and could study for free because she had a scholarship. Responding to Bianca's bullying and insults could jeopardize her scholarship. Besides, Bianca was the youngest daughter of a university dean, so it would be very dangerous to go against her.

So Veronica remained silent and took her seat, staring at the professor's chair in front of her, hoping the professor would still be absent so she could go home.

"Good morning," greeted a tall, muscular, bespectacled man as he entered the classroom. The male professor, renowned for his handsome looks, caught the attention of all the female students. They had not expected such a young and attractive professor to be teaching their class.

Of course, it was a blessing to be able to meet him face to face. Until now, they could only admire him from a distance and exchange brief greetings when they crossed paths. The handsome professor was also stern and reserved, so not many students could engage in extensive conversations with him, except for those under his guidance. But now?

"Good morning, Sir..."

The entire class responded and took their seats.

"Alright. Let me introduce myself. My name is Frans Rudiart, but you can call me Mr. Frans. I am your substitute teacher for the time being because your regular professor is still hospitalized. I hope for your cooperation, and I trust you won't mind me filling in here," explained Frans briefly before beginning the teaching process.

"Sir, don't worry. How could we not want to be taught by such a handsome teacher?" quipped Bianca, trying to get his attention. She had been eyeing Frans for a long time, and this was her chance to talk to him. It was certainly a stroke of luck.

Frans curled one corner of his lips. "I've had my fill of sweet words like that. It's better to start the teaching process instead of wasting time. But before we begin, let's get to know each other," he said as he took a seat in the corner of the room.

From his seat, Frans could see all the students he would be instructing for some time until the regular professor could return to campus.

"You," Frans pointed at Veronica, who was seated right in front of him. "Introduce yourself! And the rest of you, please continue until we're done," he requested.

Veronica nodded and stood up from her seat. "My name is Veronica Wijaya, Sir," she said, offering a slight bow as a sign of respect to Frans.

"Veronica Wijaya the Plain," unexpectedly added Bianca, creating a stir in the classroom due to the beautiful student's comment.

"Mind your words and please behave as a proper student!" Frans rebuked, his gaze sharp. He didn't like people who acted arrogantly because of their advantages.

"Yes, Sir, yes. No need to get angry like that. Can't we discuss this nicely? I'm the daughter of a dean here, you know. You should treat me better," complained Bianca, quite surprised by Frans's response to her words.

"Well, since you put it that way, I'll be waiting for you in your father's office after this class," Frans challenged. He wanted to see how far Bianca's arrogance would take her.

"Alright, I'll be waiting for you there, Sir," Bianca responded, accepting Frans's challenge because she saw it as an opportunity from God to be close to him.

Frans let out a heavy sigh. He couldn't fathom how someone as young as Bianca could act like this, as if she had no manners.

However, from that point on, Frans felt challenged to take care of Veronica, who was said to be nerdy and often bullied by Bianca. To keep her scholarship from slipping away, Frans heard that Veronica never once argued or resisted. So, he was interested in substituting for the sick professor. It was also a way to fill his free time when there were no important meetings at the office.

Yes, ever since his breakup with Arinda a year ago, Frans had immersed himself in his ceaseless work. He also chose to become a professor so that his world wasn't limited to stacks of papers and computers alone. As a professor, he could meet many people with different characters, like Veronica and Bianca, for instance. He hoped that this would allow his life to be filled with busyness and his thoughts focused on other matters.

By doing so, Frans could completely forget about Arinda. If he were lucky, he could find a replacement, although that seemed impossible. Frans had been in love with Arinda for quite some time, giving her everything she wanted without any hesitation, pouring out all his love. However, he was betrayed and heartbroken by her actions with an irresponsible man, despite his unwavering commitment. This had left wounds that were beyond description.

Finally, the class ended. All the students scattered, heading to the cafeteria or their respective hangout spots, except for Veronica. She remained seated in the classroom throughout her lectures, except during practical sessions and when classes were over.

Frans, still gathering his books, was surprised to see Veronica still seated in her place. It was as if she didn't realize that class had ended a few minutes ago. Veronica remained silent, her head bowed as she read a book on her desk.

"Sir, let's go!" Bianca extended her hand to Frans. "Didn't you say you wanted to talk to me in your office? Come on!" she urged, shaking her hand to prompt Frans to take it.

Not knowing where Bianca came from, she suddenly appeared and surprised Frans.

"You go ahead! Wait for me there!" Frans replied before leaving Bianca and walking toward Veronica's desk.

Facing rejection from Frans, Bianca pouted and stomped her foot as she walked away. She muttered to herself upon seeing Frans approaching Veronica.

Once Frans reached Veronica, he placed several books on her desk, causing her to lift her head.

"Vero, can you help me by taking these books to my office?" Frans raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, Sir." Veronica immediately stood up and picked up several books from her desk. Without saying much, she followed Frans from behind, partially covering her face with the books she carried.

Seeing Veronica walking behind him, Frans stopped in his tracks. "Why are you walking behind, Vero? Are you embarrassed to walk alongside an old man like me?" Frans pouted and sulked like a child. The thirty-one-year-old man tried to boost Veronica's self-confidence to make her feel better.

Veronica shook her head and stood right beside Frans. She didn't say anything. Frans then gently patted her head. "Come on!" he encouraged her while resuming his walk.

Veronica smiled happily. After studying there for so long, someone finally wanted to talk and joke with her. It made her feel enthusiastic and eager to keep pace with Frans.

During the journey from Veronica's classroom to Frans's office, there were many lame jokes made, causing Veronica to laugh occasionally. This was something unseen by both students and lecturers at the university.

Seeing Veronica laugh, Frans felt a sense of satisfaction. It reinforced his determination to transform Veronica into a cheerful student with high self-esteem.

A few minutes later, Frans and Veronica arrived at a room where several lecturers gathered. In that room, there were many doors to individual lecturer's offices. Frans's office was the furthest and most isolated from the others.

As Frans was about to enter his office, he was startled to see Bianca standing in front of the door, pulling her lips into a pout. She spoke as if she was talking to a lover who was late for a date.

"Why did you take so long, Sir? I've been waiting for you for ages," Bianca said, her lips still puckered. She acted as if she was speaking to her boyfriend who had arrived late for their date.

"Please come in!" Frans opened the door and gestured for Veronica to enter. He didn't extend the same courtesy to Bianca, as he intended to address her issues after Veronica had left.

"Vero, could you please arrange those books over there?" Frans pointed to a glass cabinet at the far end of the room, indicating for Veronica to organize the books she had brought.

"If you don't mind, could you also help me rearrange those books by their publication years?" Frans asked, pulling the corners of his lips into a smile.

Veronica nodded and immediately began rearranging the books inside the cabinet.

While Veronica was busy arranging the books, Bianca snatched the opportunity to speak up. Feeling frustrated at being ignored, she rolled her eyes lazily. For the first time, she felt neglected by someone else, which only fueled her growing resentment towards Veronica. She believed that Veronica had intentionally followed Frans to find out what they would discuss.

"Bianca, please take a seat!" Frans pointed to a chair in front of his desk. He had no choice but to address Bianca's issues as well because he felt uncomfortable with her constant attention.

Bianca let out a harsh sigh before sitting down. She shot Veronica, who was organizing the books next to Frans, a sharp glance.

"Ahem! Why are you looking at Veronica with such disdain?" Frans asked, leaning back in his chair. "If you don't mind sharing, I could help both of you become friends."

"I don't hate her, Sir! I just don't like her broad physique. It doesn't match well with me. I'm sorry, but I don't think it's right that she's studying here on a scholarship either. I don't like that either," Bianca explained in detail what she disliked about Veronica. The perceived lack of compatibility with Veronica was reason enough for Bianca to despise her, as she wanted to be friends with someone equally attractive and wealthy.

Veronica, hearing Bianca's comments about herself, pretended to be deaf, ignoring Bianca's words and staying focused on her work. She wanted to finish her tasks as quickly as possible so she could leave the room.

"Alright then. I understand your reasons for disliking Veronica. But I suggest that after this, you avoid disturbing her since she doesn't affect your life. Keep your distance and avoid looking in her direction to prevent incidents like what happened in class earlier. This is also a warning, the first and last one. If you violate it, I will take this matter to your father. Now, please leave and think carefully about my advice."

"Are you kicking me out?" Bianca pointed at herself, unable to believe that Frans was politely dismissing her after giving her what she considered unreasonable advice.

"I'm not kicking you out. I'm done with you. So, why are you still here? I have many other tasks and matters to attend to."

"Ugh, typical annoying lecturer," Bianca muttered, rising from her seat and swiftly exiting Frans's office. She still couldn't believe that Frans had treated her rudely, especially when other lecturers were kinder.

"Sir, I'm sorry. I'd also like to take my leave now; I've finished organizing all the books," Veronica slightly leaned back. "Excuse me!" she said quickly before leaving. Uncomfortable being alone in the room with Frans, Veronica decided to follow Bianca's footsteps.

"Wait, Vero!" Frans immediately stood up and caught Veronica's wrist. "Let's have lunch at the cafeteria; it's my treat. I won't accept any refusal in any form. Consider it a thank-you for helping me organize the cabinet," he said with a determined smile.

"No, Sir. I'm genuinely happy to help you. Besides, I brought my own lunch from home," Veronica released herself from Frans's grip. "Excuse me, Sir!" she said quickly before leaving Frans's office.

"If you refuse lunch, let me take you home!" Frans said before Veronica closed the door to her room.

Instead of answering, Veronica acted as if she hadn't heard anything Frans had said. She simply walked away, clutching her chest, which had been aching without clear reason.

Frans grinned wryly as Veronica disappeared behind the door, completely ignoring his invitation for the second time. He felt irritated because Veronica had declined him twice.

He couldn't help but wonder why Veronica was turning down his offers. What was he lacking that made her continuously reject him? What harm could there be in accepting?

Frans pulled one corner of his lip into a smirk, regarding this as a significant challenge to win Veronica over. It was the first time someone had declined Frans Rudiart's invitation for lunch.

"It's unbelievable that someone would reject Frans Rudiart so casually," grumbled Frans before getting into his car.

His frustration at being rejected by Veronica kept escalating. If he had known her class had already ended, it would mean that Veronica had deliberately disregarded his offer to drive her home.

Frans quickly started his car to follow Veronica home. He knew that Veronica lived not far from the campus and typically walked to and from there. It took her about fifteen minutes to reach the campus.

After driving for a few minutes, Frans finally spotted Veronica. She was walking, head bowed, seemingly afraid to look at anyone or any vehicles passing by.

He immediately pulled his car to the side of the road, inviting Veronica to ride with him. However, her response remained the same. No, she insisted. Her excuse was that her house was close, and she didn't want to trouble Frans.

Frans's irritation grew even stronger. However, he didn't give up. Instead, he followed her from behind, trying to discover where she lived.

After a few minutes of walking, Frans's eyebrows furrowed when he saw Veronica rush into a crowd of people on the roadside. He promptly parked his car, alarmed by what might be happening.

Seeing a deformed motorcycle by the roadside, it was clear that the crowd had witnessed an accident.

"Veronica!" Frans's eyes widened when he saw Veronica hugging a man covered in blood. Beside him, someone lay on the side of the road, their identity concealed by a cloth.

With trembling steps, Frans approached, comforting Veronica, who was crying hysterically.

"Don't cry, I'm here," he whispered softly.

Veronica turned to him, her gaze filled with despair. "Please, help me, Sir! The ambulance is on its way, but at least save my father!" she implored, her voice barely audible.

Frans nodded and sought help from the bystanders to carefully lift the injured middle-aged man, who turned out to be Veronica's father, into his car. It was evident that the man's condition was critical.

Before departing, Frans instructed two willing citizens to accompany the deceased individual, who had been respectfully covered with a cloth, to the hospital. He left them with some money to ensure the necessary arrangements would be made.

Once the brief ordeal was over, Frans sped his car to the hospital, ignoring the curses of other drivers. It didn't take long before they arrived at a hospital. Veronica's father was immediately taken to the emergency room (ER).

Veronica clutched her own body, staring blankly at the ER door before her. She couldn't bear the thought of losing both her parents at the same time. Her mother had tragically passed away at the accident scene, her life ended abruptly when her body fell from the motorcycle and was immediately struck by a passing car.

Seeing Veronica's condition, Frans was also devastated. He wished he could hug her to offer comfort, but he knew his role was that of a lecturer, not a friend, let alone a family member.

An hour later, a male nurse came out of the ER. "I'm sorry, the patient wishes to see his daughter," he said, looking at both Frans and Veronica.

Upon hearing this, Veronica stood up and said, "I'm his daughter."

"Please, go in! The patient wishes to see you," the nurse stepped back slightly to let Veronica pass.

"Wait! I'm his daughter too," Frans approached the nurse before he closed the door.

"In you go, Sir," the nurse said.

Once Frans entered, the ER door was closed behind him. Inside, he saw Veronica kneeling on the floor, crying as she held her father's arm.

Frans's heart ached as he listened to Veronica's sobs. He wanted to embrace her, to provide support. However, he realized that his status was merely that of a lecturer, not a friend or family.

Veronica's father, weak and frail, murmured, "Vi..." as he tried to open his eyes to see his beloved daughter. She was the only light in his life, and now he saw her devastated, witnessing her mother's sudden death and his own injuries.

Hearing her father's feeble words, Veronica immediately stood up and looked into his eyes. "I'm here, Dad. You have to be strong, you have to recover... I don't want to lose you," she said softly amid unstoppable tears.

Frans hugged Veronica's shoulder again. "You must be strong, Vero. Don't cry! Your father will be fine."

Veronica nodded slowly, following Frans's advice. She didn't want her father to be sad and broken like herself, so she wiped away her tears and tried her best to hold back her sobs.

"Who is this?" Veronica's father asked, wanting to know who the man standing beside his daughter was, offering her support. Who was this man who seemed sincerely concerned for his beloved daughter?

"This is Mr. Frans, Dad. He's one of Vero's lecturers at the university."

"I'm Frans, Sir," Frans gently patted Veronica's father's hand, reassuring him that there was nothing to worry about because he was there.

"Frans, will you marry my daughter? I want to marry her before I go."

His words were faint and stuttered, but he finally managed to say what he had been wanting to. This happened as Frans entered the ICU room.

Veronica's eyes widened. "No, Dad, don't say that... You'll get better."

Veronica began sobbing again, unable to bear the thought of her father joining her mother in death. She didn't know what she would do without her family.

Frans raised his head and closed his eyes tightly. He couldn't possibly marry Veronica, but he also felt sorry for her. Seeing that Veronica had no other family, he decided to grant her father's request, despite all the consequences that would come later.

Finally, Frans nodded, and a happy smile appeared on Veronica's father's lips. With the help of several medical staff, the preparations for the wedding between Frans and Veronica were completed. However, for the time being, they had a simple wedding because obtaining the necessary marriage documents would take time. Meanwhile, Veronica's father's condition continued to deteriorate.

Before the wedding took place that evening, inside Veronica's father's hospital room, with witnesses from the hospital and representatives from the relevant office, and with labored breaths, Veronica's father successfully married his only daughter. He managed to fulfill his wish of seeing his beloved daughter married, whether it would be a lifelong commitment or not.

After the wedding ceremony was completed, Veronica's father took his last breath, closing his eyes and departing this world forever.

Realizing that her father had passed away, Veronica immediately lost consciousness. She still couldn't accept the fact that both her parents had left her within such a short period of time, at the young age of twenty.

Veronica couldn't believe that her parents had gone in such a tragic accident. They had traveled to Bandung for a client's request to create a garden. They had spent five days in Bandung for work and were looking forward to returning home to surprise Veronica. However, everything was shattered when a pickup truck rear-ended their motorcycle, taking both their lives.

The Next Day...

After the funeral for Veronica's parents was completed, Frans took her back to the apartment that used to belong to Arinda. Arriving at the apartment, Frans guided Veronica into a room to rest.

Veronica nodded quietly and followed Frans's request. Inside the room, Veronica lay down on the bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. She still couldn't come to terms with what had happened. Her parents had both left her forever without any warning.

Veronica took a deep breath and exhaled slowly to ease the tightness in her chest. The thought of living without her parents plunged her further into despair. Veronica had no family left besides her parents. There was no more mother to hug her when she was sad, and no more father to protect her from everyone's criticism. Imagining this, tears flowed from her eyes uncontrollably.

Veronica curled up and cried silently, not wanting Frans to hear her sobbing. He had already helped her so much, even though Frans was just a lecturer she had met only a day ago.

As the sun began to set, Frans entered the room to check on Veronica. She hadn't left the room since the afternoon, and she hadn't eaten anything since yesterday afternoon.

Frans walked quietly into the room and saw Veronica, who had fallen asleep while curled up on the bed. He knelt beside the bed and gently rubbed her shoulder.

"Vero... wake up. You haven't eaten anything since yesterday afternoon! I don't want you to get sick," Frans' baritone voice woke Veronica from her slumber. She blinked her eyes repeatedly to clear her vision. Her eyes were swollen and felt heavy from all the crying. "Sir..."

"You should wake up first, okay? Take a shower, and then have your meal," Frans hugged Veronica's shoulder and helped her sit up. "After your shower, you can eat."

Veronica smiled and nodded softly, thanking him. She immediately stood up and asked, "Where's the bathroom, Sir?"

"It's over there, the bathroom," Frans pointed to the door beside the wardrobe. "I'll wait for you outside. Once you're done, come find me."